Better Never to Have Been: The Harm of Coming into Existence
David Benatar
Jan 2023 · Tantor Media Inc · Narrated by Dennis Kleinman
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7 hr 26 min
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Most people believe that they were either benefited or at least not harmed by being brought into existence. Thus, if they ever do reflect on whether they should bring others into existence-rather than having children without even thinking about whether they should-they presume that they do them no harm. Better Never to Have Been challenges these assumptions. David Benatar argues that coming into existence is always a serious harm. Those who never exist cannot be deprived. However, by coming into existence one does suffer quite serious harms that could not have befallen one had one not come into existence. Drawing on the relevant psychological literature, the author shows that there are a number of well-documented features of human psychology that explain why people systematically overestimate the quality of their lives and why they are thus resistant to the suggestion that they were seriously harmed by being brought into existence. The author then argues for the "anti-natal" view-that it is always wrong to have children-and he shows that combining the anti-natal view with common pro-choice views about fetal moral status yield a "pro-death" view about abortion. Although counter-intuitive for many, that implication is defended, not least by showing that it solves many conundrums of moral theory about population.
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5.0
4 reviews
Sarah Gardner
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January 3, 2024
Benatar is the smartest philosopher in all of existence. His writings are easy to digest and only a sadist will disagree after encountering these beliefs. But the sadist gene is passed on, so antinatalism is self defeating. Either way, I will die knowing I didn't bring someone here to suffer. Better never to have been.
Greg Joyce
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June 1, 2023
Prof David benatar is a genius and this book is a work of art.
About the author
David Benatar is currently senior lecturer in the philosophy department at the University of Cape Town, South Africa.
Dennis Kleinman has been narrating audiobooks since 2013 and has at least forty titles to his credit. Born in Cape Town, South Africa, he currently lives in Los Angeles.
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